A food poisoning outbreak linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounders has been caused by a common type of E. coli bacteria that can lead to serious illness and death.
Particularly vulnerable are young children, the elderly, or people with weakened immune systems.
About 50 people, aged between 13 and 88, have fallen ill, and one has died after eating McDonald’s sandwiches in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
A preliminary investigation suggests that raw onions served on Quarter Pounders are a likely source of the outbreak.
Here’s what you need to know about the case:
What is E. coli?
E. coli is a type of bacteria found in the environment, including water, food, and in the intestines of people and animals. There are many harmless types of E. coli, but some can make people seriously ill. The McDonald’s outbreak is caused by E. coli O157:H7, which produces a toxin that causes dangerous diarrhea and can lead to kidney failure and other serious problems, according to the CDC.
How does it spread?
People can become ill when they consume contaminated food or through contact with animals, the environment, or other infected people. Health authorities initially focused on fresh onions and beef patties as possible sources of the McDonald’s outbreak. However, beef patties are an unlikely source due to federal requirements for testing meat and McDonald’s protocols that require cooking it to a temperature that kills bacteria. The onions are served raw.
What are the symptoms of E. coli infection?
Symptoms occur quickly, within one or two days after consuming contaminated food, and typically include fever, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, and signs of dehydration—little or no urination, increased thirst, and dizziness. The infection can cause a type of severe kidney injury, especially in children under 5 years old. E. coli poisoning in young children requires immediate medical attention.
What is McDonald’s doing?
McDonald’s is working on damage control, as news of the E. coli outbreak has caused its stock to drop by up to 7% on Tuesday (22).
About one-fifth of McDonald’s restaurants in the U.S. are not offering Quarter Pounders or onions as a result of the outbreak, according to Yahoo Finance.
More cases are expected
So far, there are 50 cases, including one death. This number is likely much higher. It takes three to four weeks for the CDC to determine if a sick person is part of an outbreak. From September 27 to October 11 was the reported period by the CDC. It is believed that McDonald’s sold about 1 million Quarter Pounders in the affected area.
The outbreak has affected 10 states so far, with Colorado reporting the highest number of cases, followed by Nebraska and Wisconsin, according to the latest data from the CDC.
Affected states and number of reported illnesses:
• Colorado: 26
• Nebraska: 9
• Wisconsin: 4
• Iowa: 1
• Kansas: 1
• Missouri: 1
• Montana: 1
• Oregon: 1
• Utah: 1
• Wyoming: 1
Source: AP and Today.com